January 22nd, 2009 by admin

The song Devil Woman was first recorded in 1976 by a UK singer named Cliff Richard.  It was a big hit, reaching number nine on the UK charts.  It made it to number six in the United States.  It was Richard’s biggest US success.  There’s a lot to learn about the famous song.

Devil Woman

Terry Britten wrote it.  He was English singer-songwriter who wrote songs for people like Tina Turner, Olivia Newton John, and even Michael Jackson.  He had some other hits such as “What’s Love Got to Do with It”.  When Cliff performed Devil Woman Terry played guitar.  The song was recorded at the famous Abbey Road, a frequent recording studio used by the Beatles.

It’s a story in song form.  A stray cat with evil eyes curses a man.  The man seeks out a gypsy who he thinks can remove the curse.  However, the cat did not deliver the curse.  The gypsy cursed him in order to bring him to her.

Devil Woman

Songs like Devil Woman aren’t very common.  They’re pretty simple for songs.  They have a minimum of instruments and generally simple tunes.  Devil Woman  is no different.  It needed only a single guitar, an electric piano, some drums and other percussion.  And of course the singer.

For a pop song Devil Woman has unique combination of major and minor chords.  In US pop songs, it was one of the first to encompass more than an octave. 

The song has had other performers.  The Accused is one of them.  The group began in Washington in 1981.  They perform splatter rock.  Their music includes sounds from well known horror movies.  These include shrieking lyrics, and chainsaw like guitar riffs.

Devil Woman was also performed in 2005 by a group called Cradle of Faith.  This was an extreme metal band from England.  The band called its style any kind of metal.  The song fit them nicely.

Devil Woman

Devil Woman is a haunting song.